How to Prepare

How should you prepare for my workshops?

Bring your portable computer loaded with your software to work on. We do not provide computers/monitors. In special cases, on a very limited basis, we may be able to provide equipment for you. We are able to provide the latest version of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for your use during the week. We provide all printers and media - Epson. If you have a special kind of paper or substrate you wish to use, bring it.

Bring removable media. You'll save valuable time if you bring your own portable hardrive. We also provide CDs and DVDs.

Bring your images. We can look at images in any form: prints, reproductions, electronic slideshows, websites. Prints or individual electronic files that can be browsed in Adobe Bridge are ideal for portfolio reviews.

Bring a camera. The single biggest mistake I make is not bringing my camera with me everywhere I go. You're bound to find something beautiful during our time together, so be ready to make images at a moment's notice.

Bring something to take notes with. For some a computer keyboard is enough. Some like pen and paper. Others like audio recorders.

Write down a clear statement of what you hope to accomplish during the workshop.

Write a well defined set of questions you need answers to.

Read resources relevant to your needs provided in my online Library.

Optionally, read the first section (Input to Output) of my book Adobe Photoshop Master Class. Give some consideration to the second (Translating Tradition) and third (Compositing for Classicists) sections. Browse the fourth (Alterations), fifth (Atmospheric Effects), and sixth (Montage) sections for ideas.

In coming to a workshop, you're setting out on a journey. Make the most of it by taking some time to reflect on what you are about to do before you leave and what you have done when you return. Joseph Dispenza's book The Way of the Traveler has excellent food for thought.

Expect to meet interesting peers, share similar passions, and see things from new perspectives.

Join us for an unforgettable adventure through magnificent Turkey, site of innumerable Unesco World Heritage sites. Istanbul’s mosques of Hagia Sophia and Sulemaniye. Cappadoccia’s wind sculpted volcanic monoliths with churches and towns carved into them of Cappadocia. The Kusadasi region’s Roman ruins of Aphrodisias and Ephesias. Markets and street life, arts and crafts, agriculture and orchards, vineyards and wineries. These are just a few of the many highlights of this fabulous workshop.

Explore Istanbul, home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites. We greet early morning light photographing the exterior of the imperial Suleymaniye Mosque, with boats and the Golden Horn in the foreground, before visiting the New Mosque. Enter the Hagia Sophia Museum, the masterpiece of Christian–Roman (Byzantine) architecture. In the afternoon, experience daily local life a you walk down the historical Eminonu district (the unofficial city center) and the narrow streets of Mahmutpasa and Mercan Yokusu (Corral Hill), and the Spice Bazaar. Visit the eerie Underground Basilica Cistern, a magnificent sixth-century reservoir (James Bond, From Russia With Love). Dine on roof tops with stunning moonlight views of the Blue Mosque, Little Hagia Sofia, the Marmara Sea.

DAY 3 - ISTANBUL

This morning we photograph the interior of the imperial Suleymaniye Mosque. Continue on to the historic peninsula towns of intensely colorful Fener and Balat, melting pots of cultures, including Jewish, Orthodox Christian, Armenian, etc. Embark on a private boat for an incredible Bosphorus Cruise Tour, sailing through the Bosphorus waterway that separates two continents – Asia and Europe – passing by marble palaces, ancient wooden villas designed of Ottoman architecture, and stately modern residential homes. Enjoy panoramic views of the the Dolmabahce Palace, the Ciragan Palace,the Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges. You will also view the Maiden’s Tower as well as the Rumelian Fortress. Then walk across the Galata Bridge, over the Golden Horn (which links Old Istanbul and the Beyoglu (Taksim) district) to Galata Tower. Continue on to the Pera Beyoglu Area to the vibrant cosmopolitan Istiklal Street, with many points of historical, architectural and cultural interest – Christian, Greek and Armenian churches, picturesque shopping arcades and passages, old Ottoman Hans, bazaars and coffeehouses, bustling with shoppers, students and young professionals. Dine in the famous Kumkapi fish restaurant district of Istanbul by the Marmara Sea.

Take an early morning flight to Cappadocia, celebrated for its lava-sculpted topography. Drive through the scenic valleys of Soganli, Love, Devrent, and Pasabagi. Our first stop at Avanos a center of terracotta art since 2,000 BC, for a demonstration of pottery-making in a traditional workshop. Visit Zelve, the most important religious center for the Christian community between the 9th and 13th centuries. Move on to Ortahisar castle and the natural rock citadel of Uchisar with its pigeons that turn flips in the air. Settle in to our remarkable hotel carved into the volcanic tuff.

DAY 5 – CAPPADOCIA

Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride over the stunning sculpted landscapes Cappadocia is so famous for. Many of the formations have homes and churches carved into them. Then explore what you saw from the air on foot. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Goreme Valley, including The Dark Church and The Black Church decorated inside with ancient frescos. After lunch, enjoy a demonstration of Turkish carpet-making techniques at the local municipality carpet cooperation. After dinner you’ll be amazed by an oriental Turkish Folk music show with a Whirling Dervish ritual dance called a Sema.

DAY 6 – CAPPADOCIA

Capture the morning light on the many magnificent rock formations in the Soganli Valley before driving on to the Derinkuyu Underground city and surrounding rock-hewn churches, colorful corrugated volcanic landscapes, and fairy chimney that have been carved by the wind and water for thousands of years. Spend the afternoon in local vineyards and sample the regional varietal wines of Cappadocian and Central Anatolian. - See more at: http://www.digitalphotodestinations.com/2015-turkey-monuments/#sthash.KXksVXBW.dpuf

An early morning flight takes you to the Aegean coast. We drive the road that passes through vineyards, orchards and olive groves, sometimes referred to as the Tuscany of Turkey, to Boncuk Koy (Evil Eye Village) famous for making traditional blue evil eye beads, to Selcuk and Sirince a 1000 feet above sea level, to Kirazli Koy (Cherry Village), stopping at famous wine houses, enjoying the gardens, and tasting the homemade fruit wines, before arriving at the seashores of Kusadasi.

DAY 8 – KUSADASI

In the morning, we’ll visit the ancient city of Ephesus the world’s best preserved roman city and the largest ancient city ever uncovered, including an amphitheater that can still hold 24,000 spectators, marble covered streets, gymnasiums, public latrines, the library of Celsius and the temple of Artemis. In the afternoon, a visit to the once-a-week local farmers/villagers in Selcuk precedes our final stop at Bird Island fishing village. Afterwards we dine overlooking the Aegean coast.

DAY 9 - KUSADASI

After a relaxing morning along the Kusadasi shore, we’ll walk the stepped streets of Priene and Iasos, virtually unchanged since Alexander the Great was there. The temple of Apollo at Didyma remains one of the most spectacular of all monuments. Then, continue on to photograph the artisans at Dogan Bey, famous for the goods they make from leather and felt. Pumukkale – Colosseau Thermal Hotel DAY 10 – PAMUKKALE At sunrise you’ll visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias replete with Roman architecture and sculptures. At sunset you’ll enjoy Pamukkale, one of natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. White cliffs and the yellow travertine walls of tombs and monuments set the scene for reflections in the terraced mineral spring cascades created by thousands of years of natural calcium deposits.

At sunrise you’ll visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias replete with Roman architecture and sculptures. At sunset you’ll enjoy Pamukkale, one of natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. White cliffs and the yellow travertine walls of tombs and monuments set the scene for reflections in the terraced mineral spring cascades created by thousands of years of natural calcium deposits.

DAY 11 – FLIGHT TO ISTANBUL

An early morning flight to Istanbul get you there in time to discover the colorful streets of the Grand Bazaar (James Bond film “Skyfall”) and/or enjoy a traditional Turkish bath. In the afternoon, you’ll be inspired by your fellow travelers images during Final Reviews, before our evening farewell dinner along the shores of the Bosphorus River.

DAY 12 – FLY HOME

Return home from Istanbul Airport. Or, continue your adventure on a post-trip extension.

Curriculum

Creativity, composition, workflow, and post-processing are only a few of the topics that will be presented. You’ll get lots of guidance on site and reviews of your work off site. Get ready for a non-stop week of making images in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape!

Getting Here - Cushing, Maine

Airports

Portland and Bangor airports are both serviced by major airlines. JetBlue now offers economical flights in and out of Portland. Daily commercial air service is also available to Knox County Regional Airport, located in Owls head just outside of Rockland. Portland and Bangor feature limousine and shuttle-van service, and taxi service is available at Knox County Regional Airport. All three airports have rental cars available.

Rental Cars

Driving Directions to Midcoast Maine

From Portland, ME Take I-295 north to Exit 28 (Bath/Brunswick Coastal Route 1). Follow U.S. Route 1 north to Thomaston. Rockland is four miles farther north. For directions to our studio in Cushing please refer to Directions to Caponigro Arts from Thomaston.

From Bangor, ME Take I-395 west to U.S.-202 west via Exit 2 toward Hampden. US-202 becomes Western Ave. Take to U.S.Route 1A south to Route 1 in Rockland.

From Boston, MA Take I-95 north into Maine, to I-295, Exit 44 or 52 in Portland. Follow directions above from Portland.

From Manchester, NH Take I-93 to Route 101 East, then I-95 north towards Portsmouth. Take I-295 at Exit 44 towards South Portland. Follow directions above from Portland.

Driving Directions to Caponigro Arts from Thomaston, Maine

Take Coastal Route 1 to Thomaston.

FROM THOMASTON CENTER: Turn LEFT on Wadsworth Street (Prison Store on corner). From points South, turn RIGHT on Wadsworth Street.

Go over the GREEN BRIDGE. This is BROOKLYN HEIGHTS ROAD which turns into RIVER ROAD.

Follow RIVER ROAD for approx. 5 miles. You'll see Broad Cove (the water) on your left, and pass FALES STORE on your right. Ahead of you the road forks: left or straight.

Maine Accommodations

Students stay in local bed and breakfasts, inns, hotels, motels and rental cottages, all within 20 minutes of our studio in Cushing. The Hampton Inn in Thomaston (15 minutes north) is the areas newest hotel and quite convenient to both Cushing and Rockland. Rockland is the largest town in the area offering a variety of restaurants, stores, and theaters. Rockport's inns often overlook the water and are only 5 minutes north of Rockland on Route 1. These are good choices for those who prefer motel accommodations to B&Bs, although you will need to drive into Rockland or Camden for breakfast and dinner. Waldoboro (15 mins south), Friendship (10 minutes south - a working harbor that is particularly scenic), South Thomaston (15 minutes north), and Clark Island (15 minutes north) offer B&B accommodations in a more rural setting.

Below is a list of recommended local establishments, with closest proximity to the studio listed first.

Maine Destinations

The Maine coast is extraordinarily beautiful. Here are a few highlights you may wish to consider visiting. Caponigro Arts is located in midcoast Maine making many destinations accessible. See Studio for more details.

Some of the largest and most scenic sand beaches buffer the marsh at Popham. The surf and tideline are mesmerizing. Two rivers, one small and slow below, and one large and strong above, flank these sandy shores. At low tide, you can wade to a nearby island.

Reid State Park

A grand overview allow you to survey the nearby river as it plunges in the tidal zone, tall evergreen forests atop rocky ledges, and the long sandy beach that stretches south towards distant islands. A large marsh, full of cattails, separates two entrances to the shore, linked by the beach.

Pemaquid Point

Pemaquid Light presides over dramatic slabs of granite that crash down to the tumbling shoreline. Islands drift on the far horizon, nearly lost in the great Atlantic Ocean. Clouds drift by endlessly.

Long Cove Quarry

It looks like an abandoned sculpture garden. Three large pools of water are nested, below towering cliffs, amid piles of rubble. Large blocks rise out amid a flurry of small chips lumbering and lurching from point to point. A walk along the rim provides many bird's-eye-views.

Hewitt's Island

The rocky shores of the Maine islands are quite extraordinary. A walk around Hewitt's Island at low tide provides views out across the Atlantic Ocean to the distant horizon, dow into the emerald depths of the Penobscott Bay, and over the sensuous granite undulations of the shoreline where the two meet. You'll find surprises at every turn.

Rockland Breakwater

Huge masses of cut stone form a path one mile long that reaches out into the Rockland harbor to the Rockland light. In no time at all, you'll find you've walked out into the water. The mood is as changeable as the weather and light.

Fernald's Neck

A walk along the shoreline of Lake Meguniticook at Fernalds Neck is also a walk through towering cathedral woods. The view across beds of pine needles clustered with fern, under lush canopies, and out to the waters beyond is idyllic. Occasionally, slabs of granite allow you to hop a short way out into the lake.

Mount Desert Island

Acadia National Park offers some of the richest and most abundant shores along the Maine coast. At Thunder Hole, the tide crashes across large surf worn stones, into tall cliffs, and through dark blow-oles. At Sand Beach, a lazy river winds its way across dunes out toward nearby islands. Further on, high overlooks provide grand views of the surf below and the far shores beyond.